Frequently Asked questions
Q: How do you customize toys?
A: I am planning on making some tutorials, but I basically prep the toy, sculpt the toy, paint the toy then sign and seal it.
Q: How do you remove paint from a toy?
A: I use either nail polish remover with Acetone or straight Acetone and remove it with a paper towel, cotton swab or something similar. Please note that both of these are very flammable and extremely volatile! Please use with caution and/or adult supervision!
Q: What do you use to sculpt?
A: About 98% percent of the time I use Aves Apoxie Sculpt. It is a two-part air dry clay that is extremely durable. Sometimes I will use Super Sculpey for accessories, or sometimes I use other kinds of sculpting clay but generally I use Apoxie Sculpt.
Q: What about paint? Is there a certain kind you use or recommend?
A: For my custom toys, airbrushing and acrylic paintings I use acrylic paints in artist or professional grade. For watercolors I use professional grade watercolors and gouache. I use Gesso as a primer. I use a lot of different brands of paints and many different kinds of brushes. My favorite paints include Creatix Airbrush Colors, Blick Artist Acrylics, and Van Gogh/Amsterdam Acrylics and many others. For brushes I love Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II, Winsor & Newton Sable, as well as brushes used for miniatures. I have MANY paint brushes though, so sometimes I use others!
Q: Do you seal your customs? Can they be played with?
A: Yes, I do seal my customs with Testors Dullcote or Glosscote, as well as a layer of varnish over the eyes or any other shiny areas. All my custom toys are intended for display or LIGHT play. I do not recommend them for anything else as this may ruin the custom. For cake toppers I seal the bottoms with food-safe sealant, and can use this with regular customs as well.
Q: Do you sign your work?
A: Always! I either sign it with AVCA (or AVCW before 2014), the date, and sometimes a TGG as well.
Q: How do you get the paint so smooth on customs?
A: My best recommendation is not only to primer your custom first, but then use many THIN layers of paint and a nice paintbrush or two. I thin my paints either with water or witch hazel astringent. Try to go for a consistency of whole milk.
Q: How do you get your lines straight when painting?
A: This is actually quite the challenge for me as I have a movement disorder called Essential Tremor, which makes my hands shake randomly. So I try to paint details on days when I'm not too shaky. My recommendation is to take deep breaths and concentrate while doing any straight lines or tiny details. Also, practice makes perfect!!
Q: I really want a replica of [Rare Toy]/[Other Artist's Work]. Can you make me one?
A. No. I do not replicate any rare toys so it does not get confused with the original, and I do not copy other artist's work without their expressed permission. Art theft is not cool.
Q: Do you make... you know... more adult themed work?
A: It depends on what is requested. I will occasionally make work with gore/blood such as zombie themed customs, or tasteful nude paintings. I will on the other hand NOT make anything of sexual nature, especially custom toys. Please look elsewhere.
Q: Do you do trades?
A: I do not anymore. I sell my work not only to pay for more things for my art, but also to put into savings. I have also had a few bad experiences with trades, so I avoid them.
Q: Do you customize rare or hard to find toys?
A: While I generally try to avoid them (for example, Big Brother My Little Ponies or LPS Collies) I can but I am very picky about the condition. I usually go for toys that are in bad shape that cannot be restored, or toys that my customers send me as a special request.
Q: Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your work?
A: Everywhere around me! I usually do a lot of fan-work based on things that interest me like video games, movies, shows and pop culture, but sometimes I am just inspired by life. My husband is my muse, and sometimes he helps me get great ideas, too!